Evaluation of Chickpea Varieties and Fungicide Seed Treatments on Management of Fusarium Wilt (Fusarium Oxysporum F. Sp. Ciceris) in Tigray, North Ethiopia

Fusarium wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceris is the major biotic factor affecting chickpea production in Ethiopia. Therefore, the present study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of chickpea varieties and fungicide seed treatments for management of Fusarium wilt disease in Tahtai-Quoraro, northwestern Tigray, Ethiopia. The experiment was laid out in split plot design with four replications and sixteen treatment combinations. Four chickpea varieties (Arerti, Habru, Local and JG-62) and three fungicide seed dressing (Proceed plus 50% WP, Carbendazim 50% WP and Crest 25 EC) were used in the experiment during 2019 main cropping season. Chickpea varieties planted untreated with any of the fungicides were used as controls. Treatments showed highly significant variation (p < 0.001) in Fusarium wilt disease incidence in the different assessment dates. During the final assessment date, i.e. 85 days after planting (DAP), the lowest (13.72%) Fusarium wilt disease incidence was recorded from Arerti variety treated with Proceed plus 50% WP followed by local variety treated with the same fungicide Proceed plus 50% WP (15.91%) and Arerti treated with Carbendazim 50% WP (18.33%), while the highest Fusarium wilt disease incidence was recorded from the untreated JG-62 variety (49.01%). The highest chickpea grain yield was obtained from the variety Arerti treated with Proceed plus 50% WP (24.01 qt/ha) and Arerti treated by Carbendazim 50% WP (22.99 qt/ha). The chickpea varieties and fungicide seed treatment combinations that display the lowest disease incidence and better yield could be used as useful part of integrated management of chickpea Fusarium wilt.